The gala had been a huge success. Christine still couldn't believe that she had received a standing ovation from everyone in the audience upon finishing her aria. As soon as the event ended, she was being crowded and showered with praise by both audience members and coworkers alike.

It was now time for the other exciting part of her night, finally meeting her Angel of Music. She wanted to look nice for him, so she changed out of her costume and into a white dress and a red undershirt with gold embroidery. Yes he had seen her at her worst, such as wearing pajamas with messy hair and without makeup, but tonight she needed to look perfect. As she was changing, she heard her phone go off from inside her purse. Once she was done, she checked to see that she had received a text from her Angel. "Bravi, bravi, bravissimi," it read. "I couldn't be more proud of you my angel of music." Christine's heart was beating rapidly against her chest. While she was happily overwhelmed by the praise she'd been receiving all night, no opinion meant more to her than that of her Angel. "Tonight, once everyone is gone, meet me on the top floor of the parking structure. I will be waiting for you by the elevator. Text me as soon as you head out."

Christine stuck around the dressing room, procrastinating until people left. She was so busy looking at herself in the mirror, adjusting her makeup, that she hadn't noticed the figure that walked in and was now standing behind her. "Christine Daaé, where is your red scarf?" Christine stopped what she was doing and looked up, her eyes widening. "You can't have lost it, after all the trouble I took. I was just fourteen and soaked to the skin…"

"Because you had run into the sea to fetch my scarf!" Christine turned around to look at her visitor. "Oh Raoul so it is you!"

Raoul de Chagny and Christine were best friends when they were children. After the death of her father, she ended up moving in with the Giry's, which ultimately caused the two of them to grow apart. He was a few years older than Christine, extremely handsome with blond hair and blue eyes, and came from an extremely wealthy family.

Raoul bent down to hug her, handing her a rose as they reminisced about their childhoods. "But I don't understand. What exactly are you doing here?"

"Did you not hear? My family is now a patron for the school. We're donating a lot of money to maintain higher education in the arts. In other words, you can expect to see a lot more of me around here more often."

"And so it just happens to be a coincidence that I'm here?"

"Exactly. But as soon as I saw you onstage tonight, I immediately recognized you. I was afraid that you wouldn't remember me."

"Oh come on, how could I ever forget you, my handsome hero?" she asked with a hint of sarcasm.

"Well considering how much I've changed, I wouldn't think you would've recognized me. After all, as I recall, the last time we saw each other I didn't quite look like this," he said, gesturing to himself.

"Yes, that was because you were an awkward teenager and I was an adorable little princess."

"Really? Is that how you remember it? Because as I recall you were also awkwardly shaped like a bird, and need I remind you of braces?"

"Shut up," Christine laughed as she playfully shoved him while he chuckled.

"So my family and I are going out to dinner to celebrate tonight's success. How would you like to come with us?"

"I'd love to, but I already have plans."

"It's not with another man, is it?"

"Well, yeah, but…"

Raoul stood up. "I'm sorry. I should've known that you were already seeing someone."

"I'm not."

"But you just said…"

"You didn't let me finish. I was going to say that this is just a friend. I'm still single."

A look of both relief and embarrassment spread across Raoul's face. "Oh, okay, good."

"Why were you so afraid that I was taken? What, do you like love me or something?" she asked sarcastically.

"What? No, not at all!" he replied defensively. "I was just… um…" Christine gave him a smug look as she waited for a response. "I should probably go. Have fun with your friend tonight."

Raoul was about to hurry out, not wanting to make a bigger fool out of himself than he had already, when Christine stopped him. "Raoul, wait!" He turned around before she stood up and approached him. "It was great seeing you tonight and catching up." She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. "I hope I'll get to see you again soon."

Raoul's heart beat rapidly as Christine pressed herself against him. When they pulled away they smiled at each other. "Don't worry," he said as he gently placed his hand on her chin, causing her to look directly at him. "You'll be seeing a lot more of me around here soon." He booped her nose, causing her to adorably wrinkle her face and giggle, before he headed out.

It wasn't until Raoul had left that Christine noticed just how quiet it was. She grabbed her purse and pulled out her phone. "I'm heading out now. I'll be there in a few minutes. Start getting ready," she texted. As she walked alone in the darkness, the only lights coming from the light posts, the anxiety and excitement kept building up more and more inside her. She was almost at the elevator when she finally got a reply. "I'm here." Christine went inside the elevator, her heart beating rapidly with anticipation, knowing that she was only moments away from finally meeting her angel.